Ascetic
[ə'setɪk] or [ə'sɛtɪk]
Definition
(adj.) practicing great self-denial; 'Be systematically ascetic...do...something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it'- William James; 'a desert nomad's austere life'; 'a spartan diet'; 'a spartan existence' .
(adj.) pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; 'ascetic practices' .
Checked by Cecily--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Extremely rigid in self-denial and devotions; austere; severe.
(n.) In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial, and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things.
Typed by Eugenia
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Austere, rigid, severe, stern, puritanical, uncompromising.
n. Recluse, hermit, anchoret, solitary, solitaire, EREMITE.
Typed by Brandon
Definition
n. one who rigidly denies himself ordinary sensual gratifications for conscience' sake one who aims to compass holiness through self-mortification the flesh being considered as the seat of sin and therefore to be chastened: a strict hermit.—adjs. Ascet′ic -al excessively rigid: austere: recluse.—adv. Ascet′ically.—n. Ascet′icism.
Edited by Elsie
Examples
- Casuistry, and an ascetic morality, made up, in most cases, the greater part of the moral philosophy of the schools. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- At Benares Gautama sought out his five pupils, who were still leading the ascetic life. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- He is clean-shaven, pale, and ascetic-looking, retaining something of the professor in his features. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- A man of deep character, a man with an alert mind, grim, ascetic, self-contained, formidable--so I read Dr. Leslie Armstrong. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- These ascetics were all supposed to be seeking some deeper reality in life, and a passionate desire to do likewise took possession of Gautama. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- And then he and Channa saw one of those wandering ascetics who already existed in great numbers in India. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
Inputed by Jesse